Sophie Coryndon, St Peter’s Altar Panel, UK, 2019

Sophie Coryndon, St Peter’s Altar Panel, UK, 2019
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Sophie Coryndon, St Peter’s Altar Panel, UK, 2019

St. Peter’s Altar Panel, a large carved wallhanging, was created as a maquette for a monumental-scale commission for St. Peter’s Church, in Firle, UK, that references its downland setting and community. The work will incorporate her unique mille fleur gold-work embroidery process in the largest composition to date.

The work draws inspiration from the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries in the collection of the Musee de Cluny. Created in the 15th century, the tapestries, known as millefleurs (meaning a thousand flowers), were woven in many different  workshops in Northern France and Flanders. They often included small animals and birds among the flowers. Coryndon’s magnificent work is adorned with hand-tooled flowers and insects arranged on a wood panel. The individually crafted flowers, leaves and insects are sculpted, cast, and gilded to mimic the goldwork embroidery commonly found in church vestments, military costume and wall hangings. The edges of the panel has been carved to resemble the tucks and folds of fabric.

Sophie Coryndon combines traditional decorative arts techniques with modern innovation. Material and process driven, she employs multiple disciplines including bronze casting, painting, embroidery, and sculpture to capture elements of the natural world, rooted in historical aesthetics. “Basically, I’m drawn to craftsmanship in any form, especially dying crafts,” says the artist, “But I like to take those things and re-imagine them.”

Inspired by close observation, Coryndon’s work illuminates what is often overlooked.  Her enthusiasm for the organic intricacies ever-present in the macrocosm drives her tenacious ambition to transfigure the microscopic into the monumental. This practice of maximalism fosters her desire to, as she states “take things further, make them larger, make them grander, right to the point of lunacy. Insane beauty is what I’m ultimately after.”

As Coryndon works on a commission basis, custom works may be requested.

Carton Pierre, white and 23.5 kt gold leaf, brass pins, wood

37h x 72.50w x 2d in

93.98h x 184.15w x 5.08d cm

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